Category Archives: church programming

Christ called audibles are transformational

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

An audible is when a quarterback in football calls out a change in the programmed play right before the ball is snapped. Perhaps churches should let the living, resurrected Jesus be our quarterback and call out audibles during worship meetings. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, art of listening, audible, calling audibles, changing plays, church programming, decline of the church, ekklesia, Elizabeth George, house church, inner listening, John 2:5, Kristian Goldmund Aumann, line of scrimmage, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, organic church, Quaker worship, Quotations, silence, simple church, spiritual listening, Uncategorized, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Send the fire!” Or: “Bless our programs!”

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

William Booth sang “Send the fire!” not “Bless our programs!” Which version best describes us in the 21st Century? “Our programs we want, for programs we plead, Bless our programs! Our programs will meet our every need, Bless our programs! … Continue reading →

Posted in baptized with fire, Blood & Fire, church fire, church programming, corps programming, don't put out the Spirit's fire, fire, fire in church, fire in the heart, fire of God, fire of the Holy Spirit, get fired-up, God's fire, God's word like fire, hearts on fire, his words were like fire, I have come to bring fire on the earth, I set myself on fire, on fire for God, programming, Quotations, quote, Quotes, revival fires, Salvation Army Corps, Set a fire down in my soul, song, songwriter, spiritual fire, the Holy Spirit and fire, Uncategorized, words on fire | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

9 ways to recognize powerless religion

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

The Bible in 2 Timothy 3:5 tells Christ-followers to turn away from powerless religion. But how do we recognize it? Here are 8 ways: 1) Nothing out of the ordinary happens in the meetings. 2) Many of those who attend … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible verses, bored in church, church programming, denying the power, God's power, having a form of godliness but denying the power, keys to power, organic chruch, organized religion, power of God, Quench not the Spirit, Uncategorized, wonder working power, You shall receive power | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your heart’s condition is more important than how you worship . . .

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

The most important thing in worship . . . –Writing about Christ-followers meeting according to 1 Corinthians 14:26 where ordinary people are free to share as they feel prompted by the Spirit, I can get overly enthusiastic and perhaps come … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church organization, church program, church programming, contemporary church, control in church, going to church, how to do church, how to get involved in church, kinds of church, making church interesting, messy church, religiious texting, rethinking church, seeker-church, texting, texting in church, the perfect church, types of church, Uncategorized, What is church?, worship planning, worship service, worship wars | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holy Spirit–teaching topic or Teacher?

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Steve Simms

Church makes the Holy Spirit a teaching topic (a preaching point). Ekklesia makes the Holy Spirit the Teacher who releases revelation and spiritual gifts through ordinary people in the meeting. Church has made the Holy Spirit a lesson to learn by … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible quotes, body life, church programming, ekklesia, gifts of the Spirit, Joe Saxton, nontraditional church, one another, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, Quotes, Spirit-led, spiritual gifts, taught by the Spirit, the Spirit will teach you, traditional church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Some things the Bible never said:

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Steve Simms

The Bible never said: “When you come together, everyone sits quietly and listens to the same man speak, week after week.” However, the Bible did say: “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church, church format, church meetings, church program, church programming, church roles, clergy, clergy laity, Jeff Hurt, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Meetings magazine, plan your meetings, priesthood of the believer, royal priesthood, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

SMS; smart man speaking? Or PGP; personal God prompting?

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Steve Simms

Since the Protestant Reformation, church has been built on a lecture format — one smart man speaking (SMS) to silently siting spectators. However, Jesus taught that His ekklesia (the word was mistranslated into English as church) would be built on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, book review, church program, church programming, Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, Holy Spirit promptings, humility, kingdom of God, Matthew 16, promptings of the Spirit, Protestant Reformation, revelation, Spirit-promptings, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Presenting God’s Presence–Putting the living Christ on the podium!

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

A simple script for an amazing church service: –“Please welcome our speaker, the living, resurrected Jesus Christ!” (Applause, then one person after another stands up and talks freely from the heart as they are internally prompted by Jesus.) Have we … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 2:4, church program, church programming, church services, church structure, church without a program, Crazy Love, demonstration of the Spirit's power, enticing words of man's wisdom, John 2:5, John Wilber, Keith Saylor, programmed, purpose of church, Quaker meetings, Quaker worship, Quakerism, Quakers, speaking from the heart, speaking in church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-prompted, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Have We Put Christ In Jail?

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Steve Simms

Perhaps we have locked Christ up with our logic, with our logistics, and with our liturgies (both formal and informal) to the point that we have lost His direct leading both in church meetings and in our individual lives. Have we … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church programming, God-gatherings, organic church, religious meetings, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

If Easter is true, then . . .

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

If Easter is more than fashion, rabbits, and eggs then perhaps we should . . . If Easter is true–give control to Christ! –Is Christ alive in the 21st Century? If not, then do your thing. If yes, then step … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, dead man walking, eggs, empty tomb, fashion, Head of the church, Hinduism, Holy Spirit, Nashville, organic church, rabbits, Salvation Army, Senior Pastors, simple church, who rolled the stone | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment